William Andelt- ProfessorBehavioral ecology and management of carnivores.; ecology, management, and monitoring of prairie dogs; managing human-wildlife conflicts.
1. What do coyotes eat? Mostly rodents, rabbits, deer, fruits, and
occasionally livestock.
2. Who are their predators? Mostly wolves and humans
3. Why do coyotes attack humans? They become tame in urban areas by not
being harvested by humans. People occasionally feed them which promotes
tameness. Coyotes often attempt to attack small dogs, generally to protect
their pups, especially if they wander near a den (mostly April and May) that
contains pups. Thus, people walking with a small dog can elicit an attack.
People often are bitten when they attempt to rescue the do.
4. How do coyotes survive in the city? The find food (wild prey, sometimes
garbage, and sometimes are fed by humans), water and shelter in urban areas.
5. Can coyotes be domesticated? Yes, if obtain when very young (perhaps 1-2
weeks of age) but coyotes still seem to retain some wildness and
unpredictable behaviors.
6. What did they do 100 years ago to deal with coyotes? Coyotes were shot
and perhaps poisoned on occasions when they caused problems such as preying
on livestock.
7. What kind of problems do coyotes cause by living in the city? As noted
above, they sometimes attack small dogs, occasionally but rarely bite
people. Coyote of kill free-ranging domestic cats.
8. How big is the problem? The problem of coyotes biting people is fairly
small.
9. Do coyotes carry Rabies? Yes.
10. How can coyotes survive both in the city and the wild? Coyotes are very
opportunistic. See also numbers 1 and 4 above.
11. What are some solutions to coyotes living in the city? Do not feed
coyotes. Do not wander near dens that contain pups. Do not allow small
dogs and young children to run free when walking in urban areas where
coyotes are often seen. If a coyote approaches, group together and pick up
a small dog and a child. Carry a stick so that you can protect yourself if
a coyote attacks a small dog. Do not allow domestic cats to run free.
Overall, coyotes can be a problem in urban areas, but the problems seems to
be somewhat exaggerated because the media has focused on it.
Colorado State University
William Andelt- Professor Behavioral ecology and management of carnivores.; ecology, management, and monitoring of prairie dogs; managing human-wildlife conflicts.
1. What do coyotes eat?Mostly rodents, rabbits, deer, fruits, and
occasionally livestock.
2. Who are their predators?
Mostly wolves and humans
3. Why do coyotes attack humans?
They become tame in urban areas by not
being harvested by humans. People occasionally feed them which promotes
tameness. Coyotes often attempt to attack small dogs, generally to protect
their pups, especially if they wander near a den (mostly April and May) that
contains pups. Thus, people walking with a small dog can elicit an attack.
People often are bitten when they attempt to rescue the do.
4. How do coyotes survive in the city?
The find food (wild prey, sometimes
garbage, and sometimes are fed by humans), water and shelter in urban areas.
5. Can coyotes be domesticated?
Yes, if obtain when very young (perhaps 1-2
weeks of age) but coyotes still seem to retain some wildness and
unpredictable behaviors.
6. What did they do 100 years ago to deal with coyotes?
Coyotes were shot
and perhaps poisoned on occasions when they caused problems such as preying
on livestock.
7. What kind of problems do coyotes cause by living in the city?
As noted
above, they sometimes attack small dogs, occasionally but rarely bite
people. Coyote of kill free-ranging domestic cats.
8. How big is the problem?
The problem of coyotes biting people is fairly
small.
9. Do coyotes carry Rabies?
Yes.
10. How can coyotes survive both in the city and the wild?
Coyotes are very
opportunistic. See also numbers 1 and 4 above.
11. What are some solutions to coyotes living in the city?
Do not feed
coyotes. Do not wander near dens that contain pups. Do not allow small
dogs and young children to run free when walking in urban areas where
coyotes are often seen. If a coyote approaches, group together and pick up
a small dog and a child. Carry a stick so that you can protect yourself if
a coyote attacks a small dog. Do not allow domestic cats to run free.
Overall, coyotes can be a problem in urban areas, but the problems seems to
be somewhat exaggerated because the media has focused on it.